A.without mark or token, ἄ. χρυσός uncoined gold, bullion, or plate, Hdt.9.41; ἄ. χρυσίον, ἀργύριον, Th.2.13,6.8, Alex.69; freq. in Inscrr., opp. ἐπίσημον, IG1.170.6, 2.652B22, etc., cf. Luc.Cont.10; also of cattle, not branded, IG7.3171; of persons, without distinguishing marks (e. g. οὐλαί), PGrenf.1.27.7, al.; ἄ. ὅπλα arms without device, E.Ph.1112: generally, shapeless, formless, Opp.C.3.160.
2. later τὸ ἄσημον (sc. ἀργύριον) plate, silver, LXXJb.42.11, AP11.371 (Pall.); μέταλλα ἀσήμου silver-mines, Ptol.Geog.7.2.17: also, = electron, alloy of gold and silver, or an imitation thereof, Ps.-Democr.Alch.p.49 B., etc.:—masc. ἄσημος , ὁ, PLeid.X.6, al.
II. of sacrifices, oracles, and the like , unintelligible, “χρηστήρια” Hdt.5.92.“β́; χρησμοί” A.Pr.662; ἄ. ὀργίων μαντεύματε S.Ant.1013.
III. leaving no mark, indistinct,
a. to the hearing, πτερῶν γὰρ ῥοῖβδος οὐκ ἄ. ἦν ib.1004; of sounds and voices, inarticulate, unintelligible, “ἄσημα φράζειν” Hdt.1.86; “ἄ. κνυζήματα” Id.2.2; ἄσημα βοῆς, = ἄσημος βοή, S.Ant.1209.
b. without significance, meaningless, [“τοῦ διπλοῦ ὀνόματος] τὸ μὲν ἐκ σημαίνοντος καὶ ἀσήμου” Arist.Po.1457a33, Rh.1405a35; ἄσημα τρίζειν, of a mouse, Babr.108.23; “μόριον” Stoic.2.46; “λέξις” Simp. in Ph.1164.4.
c. to the eye, “ἄσημον ἔχειν μυελόν” Arist.PA652a1: generally, “πρὸς τὴν αἴσθησιν -ότερα” Id.Aud.802a14.
d. generally, unperceived, unnoticed, A. Ag.1596, S.Ant.252; ἀσήμων ὑπὲρ ἑρμάτων hidden, sunken rocks, Anacr.38.
IV. of persons, cities, etc., of no mark, obscure, insignificant, “οὐκ ἄ.” E.HF849, cf. Ion8; νὺξ οὐκ ἄ. a night to be remembered (being a feast), Antipho 2.4.8; “τὸ τῆς πατρίδος ἢ τοῦ γένους ἄσημον” Phld.Sto.Herc.339.16.
V. Adv. “-μως” without leaving traces, Hp.Epid.1.1, Morb.Sacr.11; “ἀ. πορεύεσθαι” X.Cyn.3.4; “ἀ. καὶ κενῶς φθέγγεσθαι” inarticulately, Theopomp.Hist.250.